Wednesday, December 27, 2006

I have completed another week of 30 minute runs, with intervals of 5 min run / 5 min walk, repeated 3 times. So far so good. I've been running at a pace of about 5.7 mph and walking at a pace of about 4.2 mph, for a total of about 2.25 miles in 30 minutes.

I think that my problems with my calves are behind me now - but I am still having some pain in my right foot (where the Jones fracture was). The pain doesn't happen when I run, only aftewards. I'm going to discuss this with my doctor tomorrow.

Next week is a big step up - intervals of 10 minute runs and 5 mninute walks, repeated 3 times...

Running Log:

12/24/06

40 minutes on the eliptical at a moderate pace. Didn't have any access to a treadmill (and forgot my running shoes), so wasn't able to run. Eliptical is better than nothing.

My doctor says that I have a mild case of plantar fasciitis so he's given me a brace to sleep in, some anti-inflamatory drugs and we'll possibly look at orthodics next week. We'll see how all of that goes.

I also went up to Vermont this weekend - which killed off some of my running time. I was able to use the elliptical for about 40 minutes at a moderate pace, which is better than nothing. Hopefully, I will be able to get a full week in this week. The 5 min run/walk intervals feel pretty good - so I'm not too worried about increasing them up to 10 min run / 5 minute walk in week 6.

Saturday, December 16, 2006

Well, I guess my injury wasn't as bad as I originally thought. I started to feel better within a couple of days of hurting my foot - most of the pain is gone by now, but I still feel pain if I press directly on a couple of spots.

The good news is that it doesn't seem to hurt at all while running, so I got back to it. My goal for this week was to run 3 times for 45 minutes, at a pace of 13 - 16 min/miles. I've done two so far, and have the third planned for tomorrow morning.

I did both runs on a treadmill, and would walk for one lap (at a pace of about 4.1 miles/hour), then run for 1 lap (at a pace of about 4.5 miles/hour). It's not supposed to be taxing, and I think I'm doing well. I'm still experiencing some tightness in my calves, but it seems to get better as the run progresses.

Week 4 is going to be the same as Week 3, except that I'll do this 4 times next week. Here's my running log for the week so far:

Did a nice leisurely stroll around the park. Didn't really check times or mileage, but would estimate to be about 3 miles. Was planning to have another run this evening, but procrastinated. Will catch up with the third run tomorrow morning.

Sunday, December 10, 2006

Well, I've really done it this time...I had a pretty good week2 - was looking forward to finishing it out over the weekend with a run on Sat night and another run on Sunday - but that doesn't look like it's going to happen.

On my way home from dinner on Friday night, I tripped and twisted my foot. This is the same foot that I broke this summer (Jones Fracture) - and I feel like I did the exact same thing. Fortunately, it doesn't hurt nearly as bad as it did this summer - and I am able to put some weight on it.

I'm going to try to use the eliptical a few times this week, provided that it doesn't hurt - and take it from there. Fortunately, I'm not at the point where I had TOO much invested in this whole thing, and hopefully, it's something I'll recover from relatively quickly.

Tuesday, December 5, 2006

Week 2 of my training program was supposed to be 4 repitions of 30 minute walks at pace of 17 - 20 min/mile. This is a pace that's really comfortable to me, so I decided to advance to Week 3. Week three is supposed to be 3 repitions of 30 minute fast walks at a 13 - 16 min/mile pace.

I tried my first one on a treadmill last night. 13 min/miles are a bit too fast for me to walk - so I went down to a 14 min/mile, and half walked / half trotted the distance. It felt pretty good - and I was able to complete 2.5 miles in 35 minutes.

By the way, for those of you wondering which training program I'm using - I've decided to use The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer by Whitsett, Dolgener and Kole. I found the stories in the book inspirational, and felt that it was something that I could relate to. They also do a really good job at helping you identify and treat injuries as they happen, so that they don't force you out of a race.

Sunday, December 3, 2006

Week 1...got off to a bit of a slow start. The goal for this week was to walk for 30 minutes, 4 times, at a pace of about 17 min/mile. Averaged about 15 minute miles, and fell into a nice local routine. Had a bit of a lull midweek while traveling - wasn't quite as disciplined as I would have liked to be about hitting the treadmill while traveling. Made up for it nicely at the end of the week. Unseasonably warm weather got me outside most days.

Am going to get more serious about the stretching - as I'm sure that this will be really important in the coming weeks.

Plan for this week is to do the same as last week - 4 walks/runs this week for 30 minutes at a pace of 15 min/mile. Hopefully, being home this week will let me be more serious about the exercise.